Method of pipe joint sealing

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a pipe joint sealing device and method of fabricating the same. The device includes an annular resilient body of rubber which is generally V-shaped in cross-section which defines inner and outer annular flanges or body portions. This annular body or rubber ring is fitted into the opening of a rigid concrete structure, such as a manhole, in fluid-type engagement therewith. This engagement is interlocking which prevents the accidental dislodgement of the rubber ring from the opening, and is achieved by casting the concrete into locking engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the ring, this ring being provided with an annular anchor portion which in cross-section is of keystone shape.

United States Patent 1191 Skinner et a1.

1 1 Apr. 1, 1975 METHOD OF PIPE JOINT SEALING [75] Inventors: Harry W.Skinner, 4609 St. Joe

Center Rd., Fort Wayne, 1nd. 46815; Max D. Orn, Scotia, NY.

52 us. c1 29/450, 29/525, 264/274, 277/181, 277/190, 285/189 51 1m. (:1B23p 11/02 [58] Field of Search 29/450, 423, 525; 277/181, 277/190;285/189; 264/274; 249/11, 145, 83,

3,139,469 6/1964 Miller 264/274 X 3,275,040 9/1966 Hausmann et a1285/189 X 3,363,876 1/1968 Moore 3,415,482 12/1968 Schmidgall 3,796,4063/1974 Ditcher 249/11 Primary Examiner-Charlie T. Moon [57] ABSTRACTThis invention relates to a pipe joint sealing device and method offabricating the same. The device includes an annular resilient body ofrubber which is generally V-shaped in cross-section which defines innerand outer annular flanges or body portions. This annular body or rubberring is fitted into the opening of a rigid concrete structure, such as amanhole, in fluid-type engagement therewith. This engagement isinterlocking which prevents the accidental dislodgement of the rubberring from the opening, and is achieved by casting the concrete intolocking engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the ring, thisring being provided with an annular anchor portion which incross-section is of keystone shape.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENIEB APR 3 I975 sum 1 or 4 FIGZ FIGb

INVENTO 3 HARRY w. s\ ER,

MAX D. ORN

BY M,

ATTORNEYS PAEENTEB APR 1 i875 SHEET 2 BF 4 FIGA INVENTORS. HARRY W-SKINNER,

MAX D. ORN, wmpmx mh ATTORNEYS.

HENTEU APR 1 19-75 SHZU 3 0F 4 INVENTORE HARRY W. SKiNNER 1 MAx D. ORN,BY wwmm 04M ATTORNEYS PATENTED APR 1 I975 EU BF 4 R N w oWR N W WW JAM Hw B METHOD OF PIPE JOINT SEALING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates-to pipe joint sealing devices andthe method of fabricating the same, and more particularly to the sealingof concrete pipe joints.

2. Description of the Prior Art Typical pipe joint structures aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,924,472; 2,935,349; and 3,348,850. Ingeneral, these structures include a sealing ring formed of rubber orrubber-like material which is inserted into the annular cavity formed inthe usual pipe joint, whether this joint be formed between pipe sectionsor between the entry end of a section of pipe and the hole in a concretemanhole. Such prior art structures have not proven to be entirelysatisfactory from the standpoints of ease of installation, durability,and economy. In one such structure, a sealing ring inserted into thejoint cavity is provided with two flanges which may be forced apart bymeans of an auxiliary sealing wedge. The friction of engagement betweenthe sealing ring and the opposing walls of the annular cavity providethe holding power against dislodgement, but it has been found thatpressure fluid internally of the pipes can blow out the seal or produceleakage. In another prior art structure, annular metal clamps are usedto secure the sealing ring into the cavity; however, this has proven tobe costly and time consuming in the manufacture and installationthereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the broader aspects of thisinvention, there is provided a pipe joint sealing device which includesan annular resilient body of rubber-like material. This body isgenerally a V-shaped cross-section which defines radially inner andouter annular body portions or flanges. A rigid concrete structure, suchas a manhole, a pipe section, a septic tank, or the like, is providedwith the usual opening into which a section of pipe is to be fitted.Into this opening is secured the aforesaid annular body or sealing ring,the outer flange thereof having an interlocking engagement with theperimetral portion of the opening. In one form of the invention, thisinterlocking engagement is provided by casting or molding concretearound the outer periphery or flange of the sealing ring such that whenthe concrete hardens, the ring is locked into position. For insuring aninterlocking engagement, an annular anchor may be provided on the outerperiphery of the ring, which in cross-section is of keystone shape, suchthat upon hardening of the concrete, the ring is locked into place. Ingeneral, the finished product is thus an assembly which includes a rigidconcrete structure provided with an opening in effect lined with arubber sealing ring. A section of pipe to be joined to the manhole issimply entered into the sealing ring, requiring only negligible furtherinstallation procedure. This seal between the concrete manhole and thepipe is completed by inserting a wedge of rubber material into the spacebetween the inner and outer flanges of the ring for spreading the sameinto intimate engagement with the pipe periphery.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a pipe jointsealing device which is simple in construction, economical tomanufacture, and substantially trouble-free in operation.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a pipe jointsealing device which requires only a minimum of time for effecting theinstallation of a section of pipe into the opening of a concretestructure to which the pipe is to be joined.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a pipe jointsealing device which permits some relative movement between a section ofpipe and another structure to which it is joined without causing failureof the seal or damage to the pipe.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method ofproducing the afore-mentioned sealing device in a facile, economical,and efficient manner.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention andthe manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the inventionitself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptionof an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1 is afragmentary view, partially sectioned for clarity of illustration, ofone embodiment of this invention wherein a section of entry pipe isjoined to a manhole;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partly sectioned for clarity of illustration, ofa ring-mounting plug in fabricating the sealing joint of this invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan views of the two different sections making up theplug of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional illustration of one embodiment of therubber-sealing ring of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a rubber wedge used in conjunction with thesealing ring of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view in exploded form and partially sectioned of theplug of FIG. 2 but with the rubbersealing ring of FIG. 5 mountedthereon, the plug being shown disassembled;

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 7 but with the sections of the plug securedtogether;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating certain of the stepsinvolved in fabricating the joint of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIGv 9 showing the rubber sealing ringlocked in place in the opening of a concrete manhole; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective illustration showing the final step ofcompleting the seal between a section of pipe entered into thefabricated, lined opening in the manhole.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, andmore particularly to FIG. 1, a conventional manhole 10 of cylindricalshape and formed of concrete is provided with a circular opening 12 ofthe cross-sectional shape shown into which a section 14 of pipe isinstalled. A sealing ring of rubber or rubber-like material 16 is fittedinto the annular space between the perimeter of the opening 12 and thepipe section 14, this ring 16 providing a fluidtight seal that typicallyprevents leakage of water from the manhole 10 past the exterior pipesection 14.

The ring 16, preferably made of rubber, may be formed of other materialssuch as vinyl plastic or the like which exhibit pliable, resilientcharacteristics much like rubber. In a working embodiment of thisinvention, the ring 16 is provided with a shape shown more clearly inFIG. 5. The ring is essentially V-shaped in cross-section therebydefining radially inner and outer annular portions or flanges 20 and 22(the drawings being substantially to scale) which are serrated on theinner surfaces and provided with an annular cavity 24in the portion 20.On the flange 22 is provided a radially outwardly projecting anchoringannulus 26 of keystone cross-section, the outer surface of flange 22being substantially cylindrical and extending equal distances from theopposite sides of the anchor 26.

The inner surface of the flange 20 is provided with four radiallyinwardly projecting ribs 21 which, in cross-section, are generally oftriangular shape as is shown more clearly in FIG. 5. The four ribs arecontained in two pairs or groups, the ribs of each pair being inclinedoppositely from those of the other pair as shown. One end of the flange20 is provided with an annular surface 23 at an angle of about 45 to theaxis of the ring 16. This surface 23 merges into yet another surface 25at right angles to the axis.

The space 60 between the two flanges 20 and 22 is further defined by thetwo beveled edges 61 and 63 which serves in providing a wider entranceway into the space 60 for the strip of wedge 50 of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the anchor 26 intimately fitsinto an annular socket 28 of complementary size and shape which servesto lock the anchor to the perimeter of the opening 12. The concreteforming the opening 12 also intimately engages the cylindrical surfaceof the flange 22 such that the ring 16 is positively interlocked withthe concrete and thereby prevented from dislodgement either radially oraxially from the opening 12.

The actual installation of a section of pipe 14 into the fabricatedopening just defined will be explained later on. In the following willbe described the apparatus and method for fabricating the rubber-linedopening in the manhole.

The manhole 10 is cast or molded of concrete according to conventionalmethods. However, a unique structure is utilized for the purpose of notonly forming the opening 12 but also the proper positioning of thesealing ring 16 during casting of the manhole.

This unique structure which is characterized in the following asring-mounting plug 30, is shown in detail in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8.This plug 30 is formed preferably of glass fiber reinforced plastic ofthe type usually employed in the fabrication of boats and the like, andin the preferred embodiment is in two sections 32 and 34, respectively.The plug 30 is generally circular in shape resembling the wheel and rimof an automobile, each section 32 and 34 being provided with annulardiscs 36 and 38, respectively, extending radially inwardly and in planarabutting engagement with each other. A plurality of removable fasteningdevices, such as nut and screw assemblies 40, are used for securing thetwo sections 32 and 34 together. Mating projections 41 and indentations43 in the discs serve in locating the sections rotationally relative toeach other. The outer peripheral portion of the assembled plug 30 ischannel shaped as more clearly shown in FIG. 2 with the opposite sides42 and 44 thereof flaring outwardly and generally being offrusto-conical shape. The perimeters of these sides 42 and 44, as viewedin FIG. 2, have a curvature as shown which conforms to the cylindricalshape of the finished manhole of FIG. 1. The purpose of this curvaturewill be explained in more detail later.

Considering for the moment only the plug section 34, it will be notedthat it is provided with a frustoconically shaped portion 46 which isintegrally connected to the outer perimeter of the disc 34.

As regards the section 32, it is also provided with a frusto-conicallyshaped portion 48, larger in diameter yet of lesser axial depth than theconical portion 46.

Utilization of the ring-mounting plug 30 will now be explained. With thetwo sections 32 and 34 disassembled as shown in FIG. 7, the sealing ring16 is telescoped over the frusto conical portion 46. As statedpreviously, the relative shapes and dimensions are shown to scale. Thekeystone annulus 26 is outermost.

The section 32 is next assembled to the section 34 and the two arefastened together by means of the nut and screw assemblies 40 or anysimilar quick-lock fastening devices conventionally available. Thefrustoconical portion 48 on the section 32 is abutted against thesimilarly shaped portion 50 on the sealing ring 16 thereby mountingsecurely the sealing ring 16 on the plug 30. This assembly is now readyto be used in connection with the casting of the manhole which will beexplained in connection with FIG. 9.

Cylindrical coaxial mold forms 52 and 54 of fiberglass, metal or thelike, are spaced to provide for the shape and size of a manhole to beformed by filling the space 56 therebetween with concrete. However,prior to pouring concrete into the mold, the plug assembly of FIG. 8 isplaced in the proper position in the cavity 56 (FIG. 9). As explainedearlier, the perimeters of the flanges or sides 42 and 44 (FIG. 2) areformed generally to conform to the shape of the finished manhole, and aswill now be apparent in FIG. 9, this shape conforms precisely to theopposite cylindrical surfaces of the cavity 56. Thus, the flanges 42 and44 seal against the inner sides of the forms 52 and 54 to prevent theescape of concrete which may be poured into the cavity 56. The shapes ofthe perimeters of the flanges 42 and 44 in engagement with the forms 52and 54 provide a circular opening in the manhole wall in the region towhich the sealing ring 16 is anchored.

Liquid concrete is poured into the cavity 56 to form the manhole. Thisconcrete fills the space around the plug 30 and the sealing ring 16.Upon hardening, the forms 52 and 54 are removed thereby leaving thestructure shown in FIG. 10, the sealing ring 16 being firmly anchoredinto the concrete mass.

The plug 30 is disassembled by removing the fastening devices 40permitting the two sections 32 and 34 to be withdrawn from the hardenedconcrete. These forms 32 and 34 may then be reused to form otherrubber-lined hole structures.

A section of pipe 14 is installed in the manhole as follows. The entryend of the pipe section 14 is merely inserted into the opening definedby the ring 16. Properly sized, the ring 16 will lightly engage thesurface of the pipe 14.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 11, a length of wedge material 58, shownin cross-section in FIG. 6, is inserted into the V-shaped space in thering 16 and there driven into place by means of a hammer or mallet. Thewedge 58 serves to spread the lips or flanges 20 and 22 of the sealingring 16 thereby forcing the flange 20 into intimate, sealing contactwith the periphery of the pipe section 14.

In one working embodiment of this invention, if the sealing ring 16 andthe wedge 58 are formed of rubber, it is preferred that the ring 16 be40 durometer and the wedge 58 be 60 durometer. The wedge 58 is providedwith longitudinally extending teeth 62 as shown, these engaging theannular serrations in the inner surface of the two flanges 20 and 22(FIG. 5) to prevent withdrawal of the wedge 58. Once the wedge 58 hasbeen driven into place, around the entire circumference of the sealingring 16, the operation of forming the pipe joint is completed. In actualpractice, the installation of such a joint requires no more than fromthree to four minutes by a single individual.

While a manhole has been described, any molded or cast object may beemployed instead, such as rectangular septic tanks, electricalinspection boxes, pipe, and the like. Materials other than concrete maybe employed, such as asbestos cement, vitrified clay, polyvinylchlorideplastic, and the like.

An alternative technique utilizes the packing of concrete instead of thepouring as previously described. According to this, the inner mold form54 (FIG. 9) is omitted, and the sections 32, 34 of plug are made solidinstead with the center holes shown. The plug 30 is installed as beforeagainst the form 52 (FIG. 9) following which concrete is packed from theinterior of the mold assembly against the form 52 to the wall thicknessdesired, as shown in the drawings. Upon removal of the sections 32 and34, the sealing ring 16 is left cast in place with the interior thereoffree of concrete. Conventional concrete-packing equipment is used forthis purpose.

The concrete employed for any of the molding or casting techniquesdisclosed may be of any desired dryness or wetness, i.e. differentviscosities if pourable or dryness if pack-able. The concrete is settledin place according to the usual vibration equipment and techniques.

While there have been described above the principles of this inventionin connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understoodthat this description is made only by way of example and not as alimitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of first forming an opening with a sealing ring thereinthrough the wall of a rigid concrete structure and thereafter sealing apipe in said opening comprising the steps of mounting a sealing ring ofrubber-like material on the outer periphery of a two-partaxially-separable mounting plug, securing said plug into sealingengagement with a structure-defining form, forming said structure withsaid opening in said wall and said sealing ring therein by applying aplastic mass of concrete to said form and into both encirclingengagement with the outer periphery of said sealing ring and axialabutting engagement with radially outer portions of both ends of saidsealing ring whereby said concrete will form said opening and willsecure said sealing ring therein, disassembling and removing said partsfrom the opposite sides of said wall for removing said mounting plugfrom said sealing ring and said wall after said concrete solidifies,inserting said pipe into said opening and into light engagement withsaid sealing ring, and elastically expanding the inner periphery of saidsealing ring inwardly into sealing engagement with said pipe.

2. The method of claim 1 including forming the periphery of the mountingplug as a concrete mold with hole-forming wall portions, disposing saidsealing ring concentrically within said hole-forming wall portionswhereby concrete poured into encircling engagement therewith will have ahole portion formed with said sealing ring peripherally anchoredtherein.

3. The method of claim 1 in which said method includes forming acircumferential expansion groove axially into one end of said sealingring prior to said mounting operation, and said elastic expanding stepcomprises forcing an expansion wedge into said groove.

4. The method of claim 1 in which said applying step comprises packing.

5. The method of claim 1 in which said applying step comprises pouring.

1. The method of first forming an opening with a sealing ring thereinthrough the wall of a rigid concrete structure and thereafter sealing apipe in said opening comprising the steps of mounting a sealing ring ofrubber-like material on the outer periphery of a two-partaxially-separable mounting plug, securing said plug into sealingengagement with a structure-defining form, forming said structure withsaid opening in said wall and said sealing ring therein by applying aplastic mass of concrete to said form and into both encirclingengagement with the outer periphery of said sealing ring and axialabutting engagement with radially outer portions of both ends of saidsealing ring whereby said concrete will form said opening and willsecure said sealing ring therein, disassembling and removing said partsfrom the opposite sides of said wall for removing said mounting plugfrom said sealing ring and said wall after said concrete solidifies,inserting said pipe into said opening and into light engagement withsaid sealing ring, and elastically expanding the inner periphery of saidsealing ring inwardly into sealing engagement with said pipe.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 including forming the periphery of the mounting plugas a concrete mold with hole-forming wall portions, disposing saidsealing ring concentrically within said hole-forming wall portionswhereby concrete poured into encircling engagement therewith will have ahole portion formed with said sealing ring peripherally anchoredtherein.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which said method includes forminga circumferential expansion groove axially into one end of said sealingring prior to said mounting operation, and said elastic expanding stepcomprises forcing an expansion wedge into said groove.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 in which said applying step comprises packing.
 5. The method ofclaim 1 in which said applying step comprises pouring.